BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 218
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Date of Hearing: April 15, 2015
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Jimmy Gomez, Chair
AB
218 (Melendez) - As Introduced February 2, 2015
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Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: NoReimbursable: No
SUMMARY:
This bill authorizes the California Transportation Commission
(CTC) to relinquish, to the County of Riverside, the portion of
State Route (SR) 74 in the unincorporated area east of the City
of Lake Elsinore and west of the City of Perris.
AB 218
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FISCAL EFFECT:
1)Potentially significant one-time costs (State Highway Account
[SHA]) depending on the outcome of negotiations between
Caltrans and the County and a determination by Caltrans that
the relinquishment is in the best interest of the state. (See
Comment #1)
2)Significant long-term maintenance and repair savings to
Caltrans, if the CTC exercises its authority to relinquish the
highway segment.
COMMENTS:
1)Background. Legislation is required before any segment of
state highway can be relinquished to another governmental
entity. Relinquishment provides the recipient agency with
more control over a local transportation project and relieves
Caltrans of any further responsibility to improve, maintain,
or repair infrastructure related to the relinquished segment
of state highway.
According to Caltrans, in recent years the initial cost of
relinquishments has ranged from $0 to over $1 million per
centerline mile. These costs are driven by a number of
factors, including roadway condition, projected maintenance
costs and any planned capital projects.
The actual cost of a particular relinquishment is negotiated
directly with the local agency, but must be based on a
cost-benefit analysis using a 10-year analysis period. Prior
to this analysis, the baseline cost is assumed to be $0. All
proposed costs beyond the baseline are subject to review and
approval by the Department's Relinquishment Advisory Committee
to ensure statewide consistency in application of the
AB 218
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established evaluation criteria.
2)Purpose. In support of this bill, the Southwest California
Legislative Council notes that relinquishment of the specified
portion of SR 74 would allow the County to manage and maintain
the segment thereby reducing the state taxpayer burden as well
as allow for much needed maintenance improvements along the
route.
3)Related Legislation. The administration is proposing budget
trailer bill language establishing an administrative process
for relinquishing state highways and requiring Caltrans to
report to the CTC biannually on which regional state highways
routes are the best candidates for relinquishment.
Analysis Prepared by:Chuck Nicol / APPR. / (916)
319-2081